Recent events have highlighted the neglect of WDDC and subsequently the new Dorset Council to abandon the comfort of their offices once in a while and get out into the community and see what a mess it is in.

Several times, the Echo has published the fact that ‘gridlock’ is a serious problem in our towns and causes delays in getting essential services such as fire engines and ambulances to their destinations.

Yesterday, in Clarence Road two private cars were parked almost opposite one another for hours and an ambulance had to reverse down the road to reach someone.

I’m informed on the Dorset Council website that if I wish to make a suggestion regarding traffic management, I have to do their work for them.

The fact that our town has been turned into a free carpark by people who couldn’t be bothered to use a Park and Ride when there was one and now refuse to use car parks, seems to have passed unnoticed by both District and County Councillors.

We are advised that all such matters must be raised via our Town Councils.

So, despite having previously tried on several occasions to get their attention, I’m suggesting a way to get our feelings made known on the matter.

My own suggestions are set out below.

I’d like to ask those of your readers who are resident in Dorchester to e-mail their own comments on them to admin@dorchester-tc.gov.uk

This will make the Town Council’s work much easier since they can assimilate and consolidate an informed report to Dorset Council.

  • Dorchester, like many towns is now a huge traffic jam from 8am to 6pm caused almost entirely by indiscriminately parked vehicles.
  • We need a Park and Ride now.
  • We need residential parking restrictions to make people use the Park and Ride.
  • Inconsiderate parking in residential areas is a dangerous and polluting practice.
  • We need to associate these bad habits with the awful effects of pollution and its associated health risk for our children and asthma sufferers.
  • The recommendations in our ‘safe driving instructions’ are broken thousands a time a day in Dorchester. Make people drive and park safely and considerately.
  • Dissuade through traffic from taking ‘short cuts’ through the town and make them use the by-pass.

These actions will pay for themselves. Climate Change is now a real threat and we must take action now. Park and Rides will save thousands of tons of CO2 emissions.

MIKE JOSLIN

Dorchester